The Acoustics of Belt Singing
Thursday 3rd October 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) covers a multitude of singing styles that have received less scientific attention than other types of singing. This is despite the fact that the vast majority of those who earn money singing (or teaching singing) do so in CCM styles. Belting − also referred to as the “musical theater” style or “broadway singing” − is a primary vocal quality in many styles of CCM.
Voice acoustics is an active area of research in many labs, including Dr. Meyer’s, where the science of singing is explored to inform (and improve) our pedagogical practice. However, voice acoustics is often a source of confusion for students and teachers alike.
In this workshop Dr. Meyer will present an overview of the acoustics of “belting” using layman’s terms appropriate for the beginning voice scientist and singing teacher alike. Particular emphasis will be given to instances where the first vocal tract resonance (which in the radiated sound is a “formant”) boosts the second harmonic of the sung tone (fR1 = 2fo). Though many sub-categories of “belt” may exist, a dominant 2fo (second harmonic) seems to be the common distinguishing spectral feature and an acoustic hallmark of belting.
Participants in this course will increase their knowledge of belt acoustics, and explore strategies for applying this knowledge in singing instruction.
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
David Meyer
A leading scholar and researcher of the singing voice, David Meyer is an active performer, teacher, clinician, and voice scientist.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Tuesday 16th December 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Inspired Sound: Unlocking the Science of Choral Acoustics
Professor Helena Daffern
In this session, Professor Helena Daffern will explore the fascinating science behind choral sound, offering choir singers and directors valuable insights into achieving a cohesive and expressive ensemble, no matter what their standard. The concept of choral blend will be examined —what it is, how it can be cultivated, and the roles of intonation and vibrato will be analysed. The decisions that have to be made around intonation when tuning thirds or dealing with modulations over the course of an a cappella piece will be explained in the context of existing research and different singing styles such as barbershop singing and solo voice ensembles.
Tuesday 16th December 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Unclenching the Jaw: Options from the Physio Lens
Walt Fritz
“Jaw tension” is one of many potential problems facing the singer, and can cause a direct negative impact on the performance in both direct and indirect ways. The underlying cause of jaw issues is attributed to numerous factors (technique, posture, strength, range of motion, etc.), making it often difficult to identify common denominators. Join Walt Fritz as he examines the evidence supporting stretching, strengthening, and manual therapy interventions to address jaw-related concerns in vocal performers, taking into account their unique needs.
Thursday 18th December 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Improving Lyric Italian Diction for Classical Singers
Professor Conroy Cupido
Join Professor Conroy Cupido as he offers an in-depth exploration of the most frequent pronunciation errors made by classical singers in Italian lyric diction. Designed for both emerging and advanced singers, the course provides a structured and practical approach to mastering Italian pronunciation as used in opera, oratorio, and art song.